Shoe lace fastener



Nov. 3, 1931.. E. GRUNDLEHNER SHOE LACE FASTENER Filed May 6, 1931 INVENTOR f/PNEST G/Pz/NDLE Z? ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 3,

. ERNEST GRUNDLEHNER, F

Groomsmen, NEW JERSEY SHOE LACE FLSTENER Application filed May 6, 1981. Serial No. 535,428.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for fastenin shoe laces to shoes and has for one of its ob ects to provide a fastener of simple and practical construction by means of which a free end of a shoe lace may be secured to a shoe in such a manner as to be prevented from becoming accidentally detached therefrom.

- Another object is to provide a fastener which can be attached to a shoe b engag ng 'a portion of the fastener in one o the lacmg eyelets with the lace-securing means of the fastener interposed between the upper and tongue of the shoe so as to be invlsible when in use.

The above and other ob'ects will appear more clearly from the f0 lowing detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the inventive ide In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe showing the improved fastener applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the fastener; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of attachment of the fastener to the upper of the shoe and engagement of the shoe lace with the fastener.

The fastener of 'the present invention is especially designed for use with elastic shoe laces which, after being secured in laced posi- 35 tion, need not be unfastened in order to put the shoe on the foot or remove it therefrom. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such use since, without departing from the s irit or scope of the invention as defined y the, appended claims, the fastener can be employed with non-elastic shoe laces. 1

The fastener is shown as applied to a shoe 4 having an upper provided with the usual eyelets 5' for receiving the shoe lace 6 which may be elastic so as to permit spreading of the sections of the upper when putting on or removing the shoe.

Said fastener is preferably formed from a single piece of resilient metal and is of such .9 adapted to receive the shoe lace. sleeve is of an exterior diameter slightly size that the same will not be felt by the wearor of the shoe when the device is 1n position between the upper and ton' e thereof. The device comprises a flat, s 'ghtly elongated fastening plate 7 rounded at its ends and provided adjacent each end with an openmg 8 through which the lace 6 is passed in, different directions when securing the same in position. Intermediate the ends and along one edge of said plate the same has extending laterally therefrom a split slaeve aid greater than that of the eyelet 5 into which the sleeve is inserted when securing the device -in position, thereby causing a binding action between the eyelet and sleeve which will frictionally maintain the latter in posi tion, and also producing a grip upon the lace which will prevent it from slipping through said sleeve.

In ractice, the lace, after having been threa ed into all the eyelets 5 except one. at the top of the upper, is passed inwardly through said eyelet and then receives .the fastener thereon. The sleeve bf the latter is moved along the lace and finally forced into said top eyelet until a binding action is effected, this being accomplished while one corner of the upper is turned down as indicated in Figure 1. threaded in opposite'directions through the two openings 8 of the plate 7 and'when drawn taut will bind against the edges of said openings, thereb further securing the lace against slipping. The corner of the upper is r The 'end of the lace is now' thereupon allowed to assume its normal -position at which time the fastener will be interposed hetween said upper and the tongue of the shoe. As the lace l'oses some'of its elasticity, the slack therein may be taken up by simply loosening the lace in the openings 8 and then pulling the same through the sleeve.

What is claimed is: s

.1. A shoe lace fastener comprisin a resilient lace-receiving sleeve insertab e into an eyelet of a shoe and being of a diameter slightly greater than that of said eyelet, and an apertured plate extending laterally from one end of said sleeve.

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2. A shoe lace fastener comprisin an apertured plate, and a sleeve extending t erefrom and insertable into an eyelet of a shoe, said sleeve receiving a shoe lace which is also extensible through the apertures in said plate.

3. A shoe lace fastener comprising an apertured plate, and a split resilient sleeve extending laterally from said plate, said sleeve being ada ted forinsertion mto an eyelet of a shoe an capable of receiving a lace which is also insertable through the apertures in said plate.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed mysignature.

ERNEST GRUNDLEHNER. 

